Read Online When Fate Dictates by Elizabeth Marshall - Free Book Online Page A

could not make out what
he had said. Then I heard a group of men right below my window.
    “It’s a Red Coat, that’s all I know.”
    “Well I hope they get the bugger that killed
him.” Another with a slightly higher pitched voice said. “I heard
it was another Red Coat that did it,” came a deeper, more familiar
voice, but I had no time to consider it, as my legs gave way and I
dropped to the floor. My heart raced as I suddenly became aware of
it thundering in my chest.
    “Oh Dear God, please no,” I cried silently,
shaking with despair and shock. “They will hang him for sure they
will,” I whispered to the empty room.
    “Whatever is the matter lass?” I swung round
to see him standing in the doorway, a look of grave concern on his
face.
    “I thought... ” I stammered, “I mean, I
thought they had caught you.”
    He smiled down at me. “Oh ye of little faith,
whatever made you think I had been caught?”
    “I heard them, outside the window, talking
about the Red Coat, saying he had been murdered and it was another
Red Coat,” I said, tears running down my face.
    “You shouldn’t jump to so many conclusions.
Come now, stop your crying,” he said, handing me a folded cotton
handkerchief. I wiped my eyes and rubbed my nose, looking gravely
into his face. “I will tell you later about it. Don’t worry now;
they will not look for me for this death.” He reached out and took
my hands pulling me gently to my feet. “I see you have got us some
dinner,” he said, nodding at the table.
    “It’s cold now,” I replied simply.
    “That doesn’t matter,” he said, sitting down
at the table and picking up a spoon.
    I watched him in amazement. “How can you just
sit there and eat a meal when you have just killed a man?” I cried,
anger boiling inside me.
    He raised his head slowly, rubbing his
temple. “I didn’t say I killed him,” he said simply.
    “But... ” I was interrupted as he leaned
across the table and pressed a finger over my lips.
    “I didn’t kill him because someone else
did.”
    “Who?” I asked, staring at him, eyes wide as
saucepans.
    “Another soldier killed him. He was gambling
and it got out of hand.” He got up from his chair and walked across
to the window. “It was my voice you heard in the street,” he
paused, the look on his face grim as a winter’s night. “I was
making sure that the man who did it was caught for it.” I moved to
stand beside him, sliding my hand into his.
    “But why are you so concerned that he is
caught?” I asked.
    “Because he also knows more than I would like
him to. I would rather the Crown hangs him for murder than have to
kill him myself.”
    He drew his hand from mine and put his arm
around my waist, turning so that we faced each other. He pulled me
so close that I could feel the muscles of his body pressing against
me, and the firm grasp of his arms around me. He bent and kissed me
gently on the neck. “It’s time to finish this,” he said in a thick
husky whisper.
    I closed my eyes as he lifted my chin with
his forefinger and covered my lips with his. My world was swept
away on an intoxicating wave of passion as he lightly kissed the
side of my neck and ran his hands along the curve of my waist.
Gently he held me away from him. His breath was heavy and his jaw
tense as he rubbed his hands through his hair in frustration.
    “What’s wrong Simon?” I asked, confused.
    “Nothing is wrong,” he whispered, his eyes
dark with passion. “You know Corran that I am a man of the world?”
he paused, turning to pick up his flask. “That there are things you
cannot undo once done?” He stood holding the flask, looking down,
questioningly into my eyes, as if the answers he sought could be
found in their depths. He took a long sip of his flask, savoring
the taste of the liquid as it ran down his throat.
    “Simon, I don’t understand. What have I done
wrong?”
    He did not answer me; instead he stood
staring at me, his eyes scanning my